Clergy members and LGBT leaders exchanged ideas on how to
influence the religious middle on marriage equality and organize opposition to
the proposed federal constitutional gay marriage ban during a forum held
Tuesday afternoon at San Francisco's LGBT Community Center.

The March 21 event was the first of 11 scheduled programs
coordinated by the Horizons Foundation to discuss issues affecting the gay
community, according to Roger Doughty, executive director of the organization.

The forum facilitator was the Reverend Welton Gaddy,
president of Interfaith Alliance Foundation, co-sponsor of the discussion.

Speakers included the Reverend Leonard B. Jackson, director
emeritus of the IAF and associate minister at the First African Methodist
Church in Los Angeles; Dr. Mary Tolbert, executive director of the Center for
Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at Pacific School of Religion;
and Rabbi Jack Moline, vice chair of IAF and rabbi of a congregation located in
Alexandria, Virginia.

Gaddy told the gathering that despite major differences
among religious leaders, "We have always been able to come together in a
strong affirmation of people's rights. Most [religious] leaders do not want
anyone to tell them who they can, or cannot marry in the name of their
religion."

He pointed to the United Church of Christ as being the only
major Christian denomination to come forward in support of same-sex marriage.
"The silence and absence of all the others present a tremendous problem
and we need to find a way to gain their support."

"We have to open doors and overcome roadblocks. We have
to forge a common ground with some whom most of us probably would not have
anything to do with," he said.

Gaddy pointed to the federal constitutional amendment set to
be again discussed by Congress that defines marriage as being between one man
and one woman. He then asked the three speakers if they thought the definition
of marriage was a religious, political, or civil rights issue. All three agreed
that it should include considerations from all those segments of society.

When queried by Gaddy as to whether religious scriptures
really matter in the marriage issue, Jackson replied: "The scriptures down
through the ages have been used as a smoke screen." He said some had used
scriptures to get away from the two basic commandments that involve loving God
and "our neighbors."

Tolbert said, "Many people would like to help LGBT
issues, but for them, the scriptures stand in the way."

"For them, we have to try and take scriptures out of
the way. You can prove just about anything you want from the Bible ... you just
have to be creative and take it out of context," Tolbert said.

Gaddy then asked the three speakers to take the position of
defending the marriage amendment and then to critique that stand.

Tolbert said that the most common comment she heard opposing
same-sex marriage was that it was "not natural."

"They point to that chapter which states God created
Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. My response to that is that the point of the
story is that God created everything that exists. So what is natural?
Everything that is," she said.

Moline said he felt some of those who are attempting to
define marriage today are trying to rescue it from what they saw as a weakening
of the institution during the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

When defining marriage, Jackson pointed back to the Bible.
"We should not reinvent the Bible, we should rediscover it. Are we going
to use it as a means to uplift people as it was intended or to beat people
down?"

The speakers then gave their ideas on what direction to go
to seek marriage equality.

Tolbert said that all people of religious faith should be
involved. She said progressive religious people, many of whom have been silent,
need to start talking about the issue.

Moline suggested speaking from a religious standpoint with
care to those who hold their religion as dearly as some hold their sexuality.
He urged people to stand up in their community and make others take notice.

Briefly at the forum's end, Wolfson responded that he felt
much more optimistic about the direction the battle for same-sex marriage was
taking. "This is the way our country advances. It is our job to go out to
others and engage them in conversation ... and let them know how we are harmed by
the exclusion of marriage."

"The one thing that can slow us down is if we fail to
engage in this communication and give people the time they need," he said.

Pizer said she felt those who are attempting to legislate
this issue "have been sworn to uphold the Constitution, not the
Bible." She also warned those involved in promoting same-sex marriage to
be "careful as to whom we label as being bigots," and Minter agreed.

"We want to be talking about how LGBT people fit into
the core of religious groups. This does not work in anger or with
accusations," said Minter. "In asking people to examine their deeply
held beliefs, we must challenge ourselves and examine our own beliefs on what
we may consider bigoted."

Kors said, "As we build a coalition and we move forward
on this issue, we need to stand up and respect the rights of others" in
order to make a difference. He pointed to polls that indicate that support for
same-sex marriage in California is now in the mid-40 percentile.

"If we demonize those people who oppose us, we may
never get there" to the level where same-sex marriage can gain public
approval, Kors added.